How to reach your ultimate potential with self-actualisation

This year a lot of us have realised that our needs are not actually being met. We’ve had the time to realise we need to be doing more for ourselves! For our physical and mental health, for our personal growth and self-love and, to achieve self-actualisation. Every day we should be asking ourselves:

Are my needs being met? Pretty heavy question... But our needs are so much more than we often think. Yes, there's the basics. Most people have heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. If not, here it is:

This pyramid represents the basic human needs, from most important for survival, to the things we do not need to survive, but still need to feel fulfilled. Naturally we tend to focus on our physiological and 'safety' needs. We eat, we sleep, we drink water, we get dressed (ideally... not necessarily on a lazy Sunday chilling around the house). We work for shelter and security. We have individual habits, routines and practices that establish a sense of security, order and stability, taking away fear of the unknown. We then turn to love and belonging. Social needs: relationships. Intimacy. Community. Followed by esteem: our desire for achievement and independence as well as respect and reputation. Finally we have self-actualisation. Being on the 'less important' tip of the pyramid, this is often forgotten. But it is necessary! So, what does this involve? - Realising our personal potential - Achieving Self-fulfilment - Personal growth Ultimately, 'a desire to become everything one is capable of becoming'. We can become so caught up in our other needs that our need for personal growth and discovery can be pushed to the side. Common characteristics of self-actualised people include: - An efficient perception of reality - Self-acceptance and acceptance of others

- Spontaneity

- Objective view on life

- Creative

- Deep appreciation of life experience

- Deep and satisfying personal relationships

- Strong values, morals and standards So, how do we become a self-actualised individual? View the world like a child. With curiosity, concentration and absorb experiences. Try new things. Be mindful. Listen to your emotions and thoughts. Be honest. Work hard. Accept responsibility. Have clear views and values...and be true to them. Identify your defences and have the courage to work past them. I challenge you, this week, to spend some time prioritising YOU, start working to discover your ultimate potential. Allow yourself to work toward becoming 'your ideal self'. This may begin with one small step - choosing a creative activity like painting or writing, it may be taking some time to reflect and/or journal in the morning or evening on yourself and your day, it may be creating a daily gratitude list... choose something that is achievable for you to do every single day, and start doing it!